Constipation

See also :

• Colon Cleanse
• Indigestion

Causes

The causes of constipation can be divided into congenital, primary, and secondary. The most common cause is primary and not life threatening. In the elderly, causes include: insufficient dietary fiber intake, inadequate fluid intake, decreased physical activity, side effects of medications, hypothyroidism, and obstruction by colorectal cancer. Constipation with no known organic cause, i.e. no medical explanation, exhibits gender differences in prevalence: females are more often affected than males.

• Primary : Primary or functional constipation is ongoing symptoms for greater than six months not due to any underlying cause such as medication side effects or an underlying medical condition. It is not associated with abdominal pain thus distinguishing it from irritable bowel syndrome. It is the most common cause of constipation.
• Diet : Constipation can be caused or exacerbated by a low fiber diet, low liquid intake, or dieting.
• Medication : Many medications have constipation as a side effect. Some include (but are not limited to); opioids (e.g. common pain killers), diuretics, antidepressants, antihistamines, antispasmodics, anticonvulsants, and aluminum antacids. Stopping foods are banana, biscuit, blueberry juice, cinnamon, white rice, long-drawn tea, toast, red wine.
• Metabolic & muscular : Metabolic and endocrine problems which may lead to constipation include: hypercalcemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease. Constipation is also common in individuals with muscular and myotonic dystrophy.
• Structural and functional abnormalities : Constipation has a number of structural (mechanical, morphological, anatomical) causes, including: spinal cord lesions, Parkinsons, colon cancer, anal fissures, proctitis, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Constipation also has functional (neurological) causes, including anismus, descending perineum syndrome, and Hirschsprung's disease. In infants, Hirschsprung's disease is the most common medical disorder associated with constipation. Anismus occurs in a small minority of persons with chronic constipation or obstructed defecation.
• Psychological : Voluntary withholding of the stool is a common cause of constipation. The choice to withhold can be due to factors such as fear of pain, fear of public restrooms, or laziness. When a child holds in the stool a combination of encouragement, fluids, fiber, and laxatives may be useful to overcome the problem.

Home remedies

• Make it a habit to use high-fiber foods such as wholemeal bread and other wholemeal products (eg muesli, oatmeal), legumes, vegetables (300 g per day) and fruit (2 pieces per day). A high-fiber daily menu contains about 30 grams of fiber per day. A cold potato or pasta salad can also have a beneficial effect on bowel function.
• Drink enough (1,5 to 2 liters per day). Without sufficient moisture, the fibers can not do their job in the colon. Fibers retain moisture so that the stool gets more volume and becomes softer.
• Drinking a glass of (lukewarm) water on an empty stomach (by volume) or a cup of coffee can be extra helpful.
• Laxative foods are also buttermilk, yogurt, gingerbread, syrup, citrus juice, wallnuts, dried prunes. Choose fruits that have edible peels since it is rich in fiber. You could also choose berries and raisins.
• Take sufficient and regular exercise, walk around a block more often during lunch break, go on foot instead of taking the car and the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Dandelion is used as a bitter tonic in atonic dyspepsia, and as a mild laxative in habitual constipation.
• One and a half cups of live-culture yogurt (high in gut-friendly bacteria) pushes food more efficiently through the gastrointestinal tract, says a 2002 study in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. The beneficial bacteria also improve your gut's ability to digest beans and dairy lactose, which can cause gas.
• The best way to keep the colon clean is to incorporate naturally colon cleansing and detoxifying foods into your daily diet like mango, probiotic yogurt, Flax seed, Organic apples, grapes, pineapples, papaya and kiwi (rich in fiber).
• Aloe Vera is often used to relieve constipation.
• Healthy intestinal flora bestows resistance to intestinal disorders such as constipation, diarrhea, diverticulitis, irritable bowel disease, ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's Disease, leaky gut syndrome, autoimmunity, and colon cancer.
• pectin increases viscosity and volume of stool so that it is used against constipation and diarrhea. (pectins found in apples : 1–1.5%, apricot : 1%, cherries : 0.4%, oranges : 0.5–3.5%, carrots : 1.4%, citrus peels : 30% )
• Rhubarb is known for its beneficial effects on the digestive system and is still used as a strong laxative.
• Elderberries have been employed in European folk medicine since antiquity for lots of illnesses from arthritis and asthma to colds and constipation.
• Grapes are used to treat constipation, indigestion, fatigue, kidney disorders, Macular Degeneration and prevention of cataract.
• Here's a look at the amount of fiber found in specific foods that may help with constipation: navy beans (9.5 grams of fiber per ½ cup), kidney beans (8.2 grams of fiber per ½ cup), pinto beans (7.7 grams of fiber per ½ cup), artichokes (6.5 per artichoke), sweet potatoes (4.8 grams in one medium sweet potato), pears (4.4 grams in one small pear), green peas (4.4 grams per ½ cup), raspberries (4 grams per ½ cup), prunes (3.8 grams per ½ cup), apples (3.3 grams in one medium apple).
• Magnesium-Rich Foods helps for Constipation Relief : almonds (80 mg of magnesium per ounce) cashews (75 mg of magnesium per ounce), cooked spinach (75 mg of magnesium per ½ cup), shredded wheat cereal (55 mg of magnesium in two rectangular biscuits), fortified instant oatmeal prepared with water (55 mg of magnesium per cup), baked potato with skin (50 mg of magnesium in one medium potato), peanuts (50 mg of magnesium per ounce), cooked lentils (35 mg of magnesium per ½ cup), smooth peanut butter (25 mg of magnesium per tablespoon).
• Oil palm trunk fiber increases colon health.
• Flaxseeds are naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. It also relieves you from your inability to pass soft stools and help improve your digestion and cleanse the digestive tract.
• Broccoli, Turnips green, kale, Green Peas, Spinach and the ole time favorite, sweet corn are just a few of your tray of vegetables that are good for dealing with constipation.
• Choosing Whole Grains over processed carbohydrates will help you with your constipation and prevent you from having one.
• Beans, Peas, Lentils offers you not only fiber but also vitamins, minerals and protein.
• Senna has been approved as a natural cleansing and detoxifying laxative that stimulates evacuation of built-up feces in your colon and moves stool out smoothly.
• Sugarless gum can also ease constipation.
• Psyllium Husk is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter constipation products, since it is a high source of fiber and it acts as a bulk-forming laxative.
• Cascara Sagrada contains a high amount of an active ingredient called "cascarosides." Cascarosides are the nutrients that can TRIGGER your colon muscles to make the contractions you need to move your stool along.
• Black walnut Bark is a perfect complement to cascara for restoring your colon's health.

Warnings

Some laxatives, tea and herbs can make the intestine lazy, so that in the long run you get more problems with blockage. If no improvement after a few weeks or if you have other symptoms besides constipation, it is advisable to consult your doctor.

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.